So my quiver includes a good number of C kites as well as a couple bow kites and I've been trying to get my head around the variety of self launch and self landing methods out there- lots of different ideas but nowhere that puts them all together. That is what I'm going for here.

It depends on the situation and launch. At DB on a low tide, I'll drag launch. If someone has a carabiner set up or there are logs around I might tether launch. Same with landings; if there is a shadow that I know if and its clear like at my local spot, I'll drop it in there, if not and there is sand I'll front line pull, if its a busy beach or lots of logs I'll put the kite over the water and eject and pull the kite in from shore.

Assess the environment and your options and make the best call depending on the the situation considering the safety of 1) others 2) yourself 3) your equipment and lastly the ease breaking down your kite. i.e. a lot of times is best to crash the kite into the water even though it sucks rolling up a wet kite, dealing with seaweed, and untangling lines. But that hassle is better than endangering others, yourself, or dealing with a ripped kite because your too proud or too lazy.

And practice in a low consequence environment before trying to do it in a winter storm!!!

looks like a recipe to either lose a finger, destroy a kite or get dragged uncontrollably. I'd think twice about attempting that method.

Try it in light wind and see if it works. I have not tried this method. If I think it is safe, I want it in my tool box.

In my experience "drag launching" does not work on snow. Drag launching requires friction between the kite and the ground. In snow, the kite will just slide dead down wind and you will end up doing a reverse launch.